3 taken to hospital after crash with ambulance

By Safiya Merchant, Staff Writer :
June 26, 2013

Three people were sent to the hospital Tuesday night after a vehicle crashed into an ambulance, authorities said.

Police said the incident occurred around 9:40 p.m. at E. Houston and N. Hackberry streets on the city's East Side, and that ambulance driver Christopher Garman told police his siren and lights were in use. Garman said he reportedly halted at the intersection during a red light to make sure no other vehicles were crossing the area. Once his passenger assured him it was safe to pass, he started through the intersection but suddenly was struck by another vehicle.

The driver of the other vehicle was 51-year-old Sergio Gonzales, police said. Gonzales reportedly told police he was moving west on Houston Street and received a green light at the intersection. He told them he did not see or hear the ambulance until he collided with the emergency vehicle, police said.

Besides Gonzales, there were four other passengers in his car, three of whom were taken to Downtown Baptist Hospital for treatment, police said. Officials said the injuries were non-critical.

Those taken to the hospital were 14, 16 and 50 years old.
smerchant@express-news.net